Analysis of the Providence school district's assessment charts leads one to believe that this district is below average in achievement standards. It seems even as early as 3rd grade, students are not where they should be in terms of assessment results. There is a very small amount of students that tested into the "Proficient with Distinction" or "Proficient" categories, and the majority of students (65%) are fall into either "Partially Proficient" or "Below Proficient" categories. One would hope that students would be achieving at higher levels early on, because research has shown that students that fall behind early on may continue to have problems later in their education. This seems to be true in Providence because in middle school (8th grade), students are continuing to fall behind. In reading assessments, only a mere 40% of students are are considered proficient with distinction or proficient, and 72% of students are considered partially proficient or below proficient in math. Scores that are this low in middle school could lead to problems in high school because the curriculum is often more challenging in the higher levels. Scores from 11th grade students again show a decline in achievement. A shocking amount, 85%, of students are considered partially proficient or below proficient in math. This is alarming because this means that the vast majority of students that graduate from Providence high schools are not proficient in math. Also, only 29% of students are proficient with distinction or proficient in writing, which could lead to many problems for these students in the workforce and/or college. However, there is good news amongst all this discouraging information. Reading scores in the 11th grade rose to 55% of students testing proficient with distinction or proficient. Compared to the other scores in 11th grade, this is an achievement. However, this score is not close to where it should be in terms of state and national standards. Unfortunately, this information leads us to believe that Providence school districts are below average in terms of achievement standards in all levels of education and are not preparing students to succeed after school.
Author: Rachel Jones
Assessment
Find this information in the District Report >> Assessment page.
(all data is from 2008-2009)
distinction
or nearly achieved
below proficient
SAT Scores
Math (District)- 396
Math (State)- 487
Math (National)- 510
Reading (D)- 405
Reading (S)- 483
Reading (N)- 497
Writing (D)- 400
Writing (S)- 479
Writing (N)- 488
Percent of seniors taking tests
D- 56%
S- 57%
N- 39%
NECAP Exams
Math- 0 Proficient w Distinction, 14 Proficient, 18 Partially Proficient, 67 Below Proficient
Reading- 11 Proficient w Distinction, 44 Proficient, 24 Partially Proficient, 20 Below Proficient
Writing- 2 Proficient w Distinction, 27 Proficient, 56 Partially Proficient, 15 Below Proficient
Summary Paragraph:
Analysis of the Providence school district's assessment charts leads one to believe that this district is below average in achievement standards. It seems even as early as 3rd grade, students are not where they should be in terms of assessment results. There is a very small amount of students that tested into the "Proficient with Distinction" or "Proficient" categories, and the majority of students (65%) are fall into either "Partially Proficient" or "Below Proficient" categories. One would hope that students would be achieving at higher levels early on, because research has shown that students that fall behind early on may continue to have problems later in their education. This seems to be true in Providence because in middle school (8th grade), students are continuing to fall behind. In reading assessments, only a mere 40% of students are are considered proficient with distinction or proficient, and 72% of students are considered partially proficient or below proficient in math. Scores that are this low in middle school could lead to problems in high school because the curriculum is often more challenging in the higher levels. Scores from 11th grade students again show a decline in achievement. A shocking amount, 85%, of students are considered partially proficient or below proficient in math. This is alarming because this means that the vast majority of students that graduate from Providence high schools are not proficient in math. Also, only 29% of students are proficient with distinction or proficient in writing, which could lead to many problems for these students in the workforce and/or college. However, there is good news amongst all this discouraging information. Reading scores in the 11th grade rose to 55% of students testing proficient with distinction or proficient. Compared to the other scores in 11th grade, this is an achievement. However, this score is not close to where it should be in terms of state and national standards. Unfortunately, this information leads us to believe that Providence school districts are below average in terms of achievement standards in all levels of education and are not preparing students to succeed after school.
http://www.infoworks.ride.uri.edu/2009/queries/FindDist.asp?District=28